Sonya takes Italy by Storm!

YES! YES! YES! That was my response to the invitation I received from The Hotel Eden to attend their grand re-launch event in Rome, Italy.

I have been working with this beautiful 5 -star hotel and their team for well over a year and preparing to introduce the Sonya Dakar brand in conjunction with the grand re-opening. I am so proud to announce that The Hotel Eden is the first spa in Europe to carry Sonya Dakar products as well as offer my signature facial treatments.

So the trip was planned, 4 days in Rome to train the Hotel Eden Spa staff, work on some of their VIP’s, meet with journalists, press appointments, attend their grand launch event and of course make some time for some Italian sightseeing.

Followed by a long weekend in Tel-Aviv, and then a quick 48 hours in London. This was a 14-day international trip and I was so excited to have the best travel partner joining me, my son!!

So off we went…as soon as we left Los Angeles it was a non-stop whirlwind.

First of all let me tell you all about The Hotel Eden…WOW! This hotel is not only gorgeous, and luxe, but the customer service is the best I have ever experienced in my LIFE (and everyone had an intoxicating Italian accent to boot).

From the entrance, to the lobby, the roof top terrace where I had my morning espresso and daily breakfast had the most breathtaking views. It’s hard to believe this was a work trip because I was pampered and spoiled by the hotel staff the ENTIRE time!

Back in November, Hotel Eden flew out their lead aesthetician and spa manager Chiara to Beverly Hills for two weeks on onsite training with me at my Beverly Hills clinic. And now I was able to meet the entire spa staff and offer them an intense 2-day refresher and training. I was delighted to work with such an enthusiastic group of skincare professionals. They were so well trained and versed in all Sonya Dakar, and it was my pleasure to put the finishing touches on their skincare education.

In between training I was able to meet with journalists from La Repubblica , Ansa, and Il Messaggero as well as various other journalists from Italian and European publications. I was thrilled to meet so many wonderful, strong, beautiful women. But the cherry on the cake was the grand launch event for the Hotel Eden Rome. The red carpet event started with a ribbon cutting with Luca Virgilio the General Manager.

The people in attendance were a healthy mix of Italian and European socialites, the who’s who of the town, artists, designers, and business professionals. The fashion all the women were wearing looked like they just walked off the runway. No matter the woman’s age, she was dressed and accessorized to the nines. And as stunning as they were, they were equally friendly and happy to meet me extending invitations for visits and get togethers. I was just about ready to find a house in Italy and spend the next 6 months there. Italy and its warm and beautiful people have found a permanent place in my heart.

My last day in Italy was spent with a morning meeting and treating a few Dorchester property VIP’s followed by a 5 star tour of the city. The Hotel Eden had a car and private tour guide waiting for us when we were done who took us to the Vatican, Octagonal Garden at the Vatican Museum, and of course we stopped for some gelato, local pizza and Italian eats.

I have shared some of my favorite Italian moments with you in some of these pictures posted on this blog (and even more on my Instagram feed).

It was a pleasure and an honor to be a guest of The Hotel Eden Rome, and I recommend, No I URGE you to visit, stay, eat, and of course get a Sonya Dakar facial at this hotel next time you find yourself in Rome.